I haven’t spent much time talking about Noah Syndergaard this season, but after his second straight start of 8 IP (8.0 IP, 2 ER, 7 Hits, 0 BBs, 9 Ks against the Nationals), it’s time for a little chat. Thor’s numbers this year are just as sexy as the 2-0 Changeup he threw Yunel Escobar for a swinging strike one: 2.65 FIP, 9.45 K/BB, 2.08 BB/9, and a hard contact rate of only 23.5%, while averaging over six innings per start. Those are elite numbers that are not going away. Given that he’ll reach at most 180 innings at his current pace (including the minors) and how the Mets are well in the hunt for a playoff spot, there’s little reason to believe that Syndergaard will not be pitching through September. Be happy, laugh with glee, and do not sell the man with the glorious yellow hair. He’s a keeper.
Let’s see what every other SP did yesterday:
Martin Perez – 8.1 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks. Don’t think for a second that you can believe in Martin. Just don’t do it.
Charlie Morton – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks. This is Morton’s best start of the year. Don’t pick him up expecting anything close to this moving forward.
Mike Pelfrey – 8.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks. Man, a lot of bad pitchers did well today. Whatever.
R.A. Dickey – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks. Don’t trust a knuckleballer. Dickey said that this part came first.
Hisashi Iwakuma – 8.2 IP, 1 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks. Sure, he had a rocky start against the Dbacks last week, but he rebounded in a great way against the Twins. He needed just two more outs for the CGSHO before Dozier tied it up with a solo blast in the 9th, and Iwakuma was pulled with 2 outs after throwing just 91 pitches. That’s how good he was tonight.
Jose Fernandez – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 10 Ks. Aces gonna ace. Fun fact: JoFer allowed two hits and a walk in the first inning, then did the same across the next five innings.
Daniel Norris – 7.1 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks. Norris had his first start as a Tiger and it was a doozy against the O’s. The most impressive element was his single walk issued across the afternoon. I’m not buying just yet – I need to see some consistency first – but he could be a very sneaky add as many have probably forgotten all about the man in a van.
Sonny Gray – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 4 BBs, 7 Ks. Seeing those four walks scare me more than crowding the plate against Volquez, and I’m still super cautious with Gray right now. Many will probably disagree, but I think Thor gets the bump over Gray tomorrow.
Trevor Bauer – 6.2 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 4 BBs, 6 Ks. Dude, just chill with the walks. Like, come on man, we all know it’s bad for you, we just want you to be safe and healthy.
Ivan Nova – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks. There’s the breakout start you were waiting for, but I don’t think it’ll be super consistent, though his floor is decent at the moment. Feel free to add where needed.
Collin McHugh – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 8 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks. This is solid, McHugh. I don’t believe you’re back – you just had a 5 ER start with 4 walks – but this is nice.
Clayton Richard – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks. This was a stop gap for Dan Haren and he’ll be sent down in a hot moment. Yes, that does make him a Cup of Schmo, thanks for asking.
Mat Latos – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 1 Ks. Only one strikeout makes me think he wasn’t all too dominant in his L.A. debut, but we’ll take it as he was our Call Boy. He clearly has been a different pitcher since coming off the DL, so I don’t blame you for the add. He’s just not that exciting.
Julio Teheran – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 8 Hits, 0 BBs, 7 Ks. He’s more inconsistent than Angel Hernandez’s strikezone.
Wade Miley – 6.2 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks. Yaaaaaaay. Miley didn’t make like a Chinese firework and blowup in your face. Whoop de doo.
Jordan Zimmermann – 6.0 IP, 6 Hits, 5 ER, 2 BBs, 7 Ks. The Mets hit three HRs in the span of four batters that tallied all 5 runs for the night. You could just see the look of “did this guy just did this” on JZ’s face while owners screamed at the TV. Freakin’ amazin’.
Jaime Garcia – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 2 Hits, 4 BBs, 4 Ks. This is the second time that Garcia has walked at least four batters in shortly after coming off the DL. He’ll fix it and be solid, don’t you worry.
Edinson Volquez – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks. I wish Volquez pitched as well as his trash game. At least he hasn’t allowed more than 3 ER in each of his last six starts now. So that’s cool.
James Shields – 6.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks. Every time I look at Shields’ stat line, it just look like a Sea of Blegh. Yes, a SOB story.
Keyvius Sampson – 5.0 IP, 3 ER, 3 Hits, 1 BBs, 6 Ks. Now that Cueto and Leake are gonezo, Sampson is trying to steal a spot in the rotation for the Reds. He shouldn’t be looked at unless in a super deep NL-only league, he has a history of walking waaaaay too many batters.
Yohan Flande – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks. I want him to do really well one day so I can do a headline of “Stupid Sexy Flande”. In the meantime…Flande has limited upside, pitches his home games at Coors Field, and doesn’t deserve a spot on your team. This should be the blurb for every Colorado starter.
Mike Leake – 6.1 IP, 2 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks. He was outdueled by Perez in his debut for the Giants. That WHIP hurts you real bad, but at least five Ks and a solid ERA are salvageable.
Jake Odorizzi – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks. It’s not easy pitching well in Fenway, and Odorizzi got off to a bad start in the first. He settled down afterward and was pretty dominant otherwise. Feel good as you wake up with him on your roster and makes your eggs Odorizzi.
Cory Rasmus – 3.0 IP, 2 ER, 3 Hits, 0 BBs, 3 Ks. With CJ Wilson going down for the season, Rasmus was slotted in before Weaver came back. He’ll most likely make way for Shoemaker and Heaney, so this is in all likelihood just a Cup of Schmo.
Robbie Ray – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 3 BBs, 5 Ks. No no no no no go away cops, there’s no need for the Robbie party to get broken up! It’s not even 1:00am! Wow, that took me back to college when that was a thing.
Adam Morgan – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 7 Hits, 3 BBs, 1 Ks. You know Morgan has no place on your team, so why do 3.5% of you own him?
Ubaldo Jimenez – 4.2 IP, 6 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks. It was time a few weeks ago to cut the cord on Jimenez, and this was punishment for calling up your ex-lover one last time. You’re so much hotter than him. So much.
Jeff Samardzija – 4.2 IP, 9 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks. Loose Lips is back sinking ships. Freakin’ Loose Lips, man.
Kyle Lohse – 4.1 IP, 4 ER, 9 Hits, 1 BBs, 3 Ks. Add another to the LoKer TOCAL! It’s been a bit funny to see both parties add up the tallies with Kershaw dominating and Lohse struggling. It’s much closer than I expected – Lohse is currently winning with 16 while Kershaw is close behind at 13 – but there is still lots of time left.
Today’s Streamer
Mike Foltynewicz vs. San Francisco Giants – Okay, I laughed when I realized I was making this choice. But I have a good reason! I’m not trusting Colby Lewis/Matt Cain/Doug Fister ever, Tillman is missing his Monday start, and Folty can bring in some serious K potential. If you don’t need strikeouts, feel free to look elsewhere, but Folty has the biggest upside of the lot.
Tomorrow’s Streamers
Brett Anderson vs. Philadelphia Phillies – It’s the Phils and Anderson is very capable of taking advantage.
Matt Shoemaker vs. Cleveland Indians – The guy is in a groove and the Indians aren’t hitting so well, especially with Kipnis hitting the DL.
Game of the Day
Francisco Liriano vs. Jon Lester – It’s like their battling for me and the #20 spot on The List. Let a man dream, okay? k thx.